Gary Gygax, Dungeons and Dragons co-creator, dies at 69

The 69-year-old Wisconsin resident was a household name among many hard-core geeks. In 1974, he and Dave Arneson created what was to become one of the most iconic fantasy games of all time — an odd, addictive role playing game called “Dungeons and Dragons.”

Gygax had been suffering from several health problems when he died in his home in Lake Geneva, Wis. He was 69. (Here’s a photo taken of him in 2006.)

Gygax always enjoyed hearing from the game’s legion of devoted fans, many of whom would stop by the family’s home in Lake Geneva, about 55 miles southwest of Milwaukee, his wife said. Despite his declining health, he hosted weekly games of Dungeons & Dragons as recently as January, she said.

“He has touched alot of people and sparked countless imaginations. He was the Father to the entire hobby,” wrote one fan on this Troll Lord Games forum. “He’ll be dearly missed.”